The annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game was set to be played in Atlanta, Georgia in 2021. Following the recent controversial voting law, SB202, signed by Governor Brian Kemp, MLB announced they would be moving the event out of the state. The game and the festivities that come along with it, will now be held at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado.

Civil rights groups, among many other groups, have opposed the laws and have been vocal about how they suppress the votes of minorities.

Commissioner Rob Manfred discussed the issue with players, teams, the Players Association, and the Players Alliance to reach some kind of agreement of where the league stands on the issue.

“We stand in support of @MLB’s decision to move the 2021 All-Star Game.” – ThePlayersAlliance (@Player_Alliance) via Twitter on April 2, 2021.

The Atlanta Braves released a statement expressing their disappointment with the situation, but also the importance of equal voting opportunities.

“Unfortunately, businesses, employees, and fans in Georgia are the victims of the decision.”

The move will have a significant economical impact on the city and surrounding area. Atlanta officials stated that the decision will cost the region around $100 million in tourism. MLB officials have partnership deals with businesses and other venues around the Atlanta area for services for the events. About 8,000 hotel rooms were reserved for league officials and fans., according to the Cobb County Travel and Tourism Bureau. It is believed, however, that the cancellation will came with a price for the MLB to pay to the partners made in Georgia.

The Atlanta area, just like every other major American city, was hit hard by COVID-19, and the consequences that come with it. Local businesses would have benefited greatly from the festivities. Low-income neighborhoods that have been suffering through the pandemic will no longer have the boost that the All-Star Game would have provided. Denver, the new site of the game and events, is far less diverse than the Atlanta area, which takes jobs and opportunities out of the hands of minorities.

Looking at a health and safety point of view, COVID-19 cases in Atlanta are on the decline, while cases are up in Denver. As of April 12, 2021, according to the New York Times, there were 954 reported new cases in the entire state of Georgia. In Denver, there were 1,140 reported new cases on the same day. Georgia is also moving towards loosening their restrictions and guidelines for citizens, which would’ve allowed for a lot of economical success from the All-Star Game.

This will be the first year that the MLB Draft will be included in the All-Star Game events. The draft will start on Sunday, July 11 and continue into July 13. The Home Run Derby will take place on Monday, July 12 at Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies.